Fox13′s Video of DABC Review Committee Presenting Their Findings To Representative Litvack

Posted by HouseDemocrats on Jan 27, 2012

Review Committee Delivers Final Report On DABC Recommendations

Posted by HouseDemocrats on Jan 27, 2012

Representative Litvack and Senator Romero receive the DABC Review Committee's final report

Capitol Hill – The business owner-led DABC Review Committee has completed their final report of recommendations for changes in the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, and delivered their report this morning to House & Senate Democratic Leaders. Read the report below.

The DABC controls a $300 million dollar business in Utah, but recent audits have uncovered waste and possible criminal fraud. Because the funds the State receive from the DABC are so critical to funding programs like school lunches and roads, Representative Litvack and Senator Romero called for an independent committee, made up of local business owners to review the DABC processes and create a report of recommendations which would be delivered to the Utah Legislature.

The committee, led by co-chairs Peter S Cooke, Stephen Schubach and Jeff Hatch completed their task after countless meetings and public hearings, and delivered the following report this morning for consideration.

DABCReviewCommReport1-27-12

Rep Watkins’ Child Welfare Bill Heads To The House Floor

Posted by HouseDemocrats on Jan 26, 2012

A House committee gave a green light Wednesday to a proposed bill that would require child welfare caseworkers to meet a higher standard of cause before removing a child from a relative’s care based on age or health concerns.

Rep. Christine Watkins, D-Price, said she drafted HB241 after learning of instances where the Division of Child and Family Services caseworkers used alleged age or health issues to remove children from care of grandparents who had custody as approved foster parents. It would require “clear and convincing evidence” the relative was incapable of providing care before removing a child from a home.

“When you’re a grandparent, you’re not 35 any more but you’re still capable of taking care of children,” Watkins said.

Read the rest of the article HERE

Representative Christine Watking (D-Price)

Democrats’ Air Quality Bill Passes Committee

Posted by HouseDemocrats on Jan 26, 2012

Representative Patrice Arent (D)

Democratic Representative Patrice Arent’s bill creating the Legislature’s very first task force to examine Air Quality problems in Utah made it through committee last night. “Poor Air Quality has been harming Utah for years, as Democrats we believe it’s time the Legislature finally does something about it.

via the Judy Fahys at the Salt Lake Tribune:

A new, legislative task force on improving Utah’s air quality is created by HB70, which won passage Wednesday in the House Public Utilities and Technology Committee.

“Air quality is an issue that impacts all Utahns,” said sponsoring Rep. Patrice Arent, D-Holladay, who told members of the committee she’s fielding as many calls about Utah’s air pollution problems these days as she is on education. “But this issue has never been an issue before the Legislature before.”

The bill creates a 13-member task force made up of five senators and eight House members, both Republicans and Democrats. The panel’s job will be to look what’s already being done to improve air quality with an eye on finding ways to make Utah a better place to live and work. The panel also would suggest practical changes to laws and regulation before next December.

Read the rest of the article HERE

Democratic Response to Governor Herbert’s State of the State

Posted by HouseDemocrats on Jan 25, 2012

Senator Ross Romero, Democratic Leader in the Utah Senate

Good evening. I’m Senator Ross Romero, Democratic Leader in the Utah State Senate. Thank you for your civic engagement, and for tuning in tonight to learn about the important issues and unique challenges that we face as a state. I want you to know that Utah Democrats are working on behalf of you and your families. We recognize the struggles so many of us have had to endure during the economic downturn of the past few years. But, there is good news and opportunity on the horizon. We are pleased that Utah’s economy is now headed in a positive direction. For the first time in several years, our state is beginning to once again see a surplus in our state budget. Utah Democrats are excited for what the future holds, and we look forward to working with you over the next 6 weeks as we propose and pass legislation that will strengthen Utah’s economy and prepare us for the future.

At this time I’d like to introduce you to my colleague, Representative David Litvack, your Democratic Leader in the Utah House of Representatives, who will discuss some of the Democratic proposals for the 2012 Legislative Session.

Representative David Litvack, Democratic Leader in the Utah State House

Thank you Senator Romero. Tonight, I’d like to speak with you about some proposals from my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate, proposals that we believe will lead to a brighter future – a future where Utah will again realize the promise of economic strength and prosperity.

This year Democrats will introduce legislation to help Utah’s growing veteran population through increased access to higher education. We will assist working families by protecting your consumer rights. Utah Democrats will also present measures to keep all of us healthy through better cancer screening and prevention, and we will make proposals to address the poor air quality we face in our state.

Utah’s strong economy has always depended on an educated workforce. For Utah to attract further high-paying jobs, we must double our efforts to provide highly educated future employees. From our neighborhood schools, to higher education and career programs, Democrats recognize this vital importance and renew our pledge to provide a better future for our children. No less than the success of our economic development depends upon our efforts now.

I will now turn the time back to Senator Ross Romero, who will talk more about our plan for Utah’s public schools.

Senator Romero

Thank you, Representative Litvack.

For many years, the state of Utah has been #1 in business, economic development, tourism, and even #1 in science, technology and research. In many ways, we’re doing very well as a state. So why is it that our schools continue to rank 42nd in the nation? This must change! Our schools should be the very best in the nation.

This year Utah Democrats are introducing legislation designed to put Utah on a path to make Utah’s schools #1. Utah Democrats believe that every Utah child deserves four things:

• An excellent teacher
• Individualized attention
• World-class curriculum
• Neighborhood and family support

If we can reduce classroom sizes in the lower grades or give teachers a little extra help in the classroom, it can do wonders to help our students succeed. Educating Utah’s children has been and will always be our top priority.

Utah Democrats understand that while our economy is recovering, family budgets are recovering, too. But let me be very clear: we do not believe it is fiscally wise to raise taxes for Utah’s working families.

That’s why I’m pleased to announce that the “Best Schools Initiative” includes a funding plan which reprioritizes our resources and does NOT raise taxes. We simply need to change our focus in order to do what’s best for Utah’s kids.

During the economic downturn of the past several years, we have worked diligently to streamline our state budget. Due to Utah’s wise fiscal management, we are now seeing more funds coming into our state revenues. Utah Democrats believe in using these increased revenues for the long-term security of our future. The Best Schools Initiative is designed to wisely plan for Utah – to give our children the very best opportunities, to create new jobs and new businesses, and to secure our economic strength and prosperity.

Thank you again for being with us tonight. We look forward to working with our colleagues in both the House and Senate to meet these important goals. And, as always, we look forward to seeing you and working with you at this year’s legislative session and beyond.

Good night.

Representative Carol Spackman Moss had a very busy day..

Posted by HouseDemocrats on Jan 25, 2012

Head to the Utah State House Democratic Caucus’s Facebook Page to see the picture of Representative Moss’s busy day.

The Devil’s In The Details

Posted by HouseDemocrats on Jan 25, 2012

Representative Susan Duckworth (D)

Salt Lake City – In any piece of legislation, the devil is always in the details. Small things can make a big impact, and poorly chosen words can leave Utahns open to serious consequences. Fortunately, House Democrats like Rep Susan Duckworth watch closely for these mistakes. Read what happened below.

In the House Revenue and Taxation Committee this week, Republican Representative Patrick Painter was presenting his bill, HB 41, which would adjust property tax exemptions.

It’s a pretty heavy subject, but one particular line of the bill jumped out at Representative Duckworth:

  51          (2) (a) The first $25,000 of taxable tangible personal property of a taxpayer is exempt from taxation

Do you see the small little detail that would create problems? The issue is the word “taxpayer.”  Without any clear definition of the word taxpayer, the bill could leave open the possibility that any business with multiple locations could claim the tax credit for every single location.

The devil is certainly in the details.

Fortunately, Representative Duckworth caught the error.. and the bill has been held in committee, rather than sent to the House floor for a vote.